Mariem Zouari

Innorenew CoE & University of Primorska

The growing emphasis on indoor air quality and public health is fuelling the need for efficient yet affordable air purification techniques. In this study, the influence of biochar particle size on its adsorption efficiency toward airborne pollutants was examined. Bark-derived biochar particles were treated by grinding or ball milling, and then, sev...

Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant with hazardous effects on human health. This study investigated the efficiency of biocarbon (BC) functionalized with variable contents of MnO2 for formaldehyde removal in ambient conditions via integrated adsorption-photocatalytic degradation technology. The sample with the highest formaldehyde removal...

Thermal-hydro-mechanical (THM) densification was performed on Picea abies (spruce), Abies alba (European fir), Populus nigra (poplar), and Fagus sylvatica (beech). Prior to THM treatment, the wood was impregnated with an aqueous solution containing 1%, 2.5%, and 5% biochar. Mechanical characteristics (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture), set...

Biocarbon (BC) represents a potential material for application in air remediation. This study investigated the efficiency of BC particles in the removal of formaldehyde. BC samples were prepared from Arundo donax (AD) and olive stone (OS) feedstocks at variable pyrolysis temperatures (from 300°C to 800°C). The BC particles were characterized using...

The torrefaction process is widely used in the energy field, but the characteristics of the torrefied wood also have positive effects on the production of wood plastic composites. In this study, short-rotation shrub willow was torrefied at 225 and 300 °C and incorporated into polypropylene composites filled with changing levels of weight percent (w...

The structural and physio-chemical properties of biochar are crucial to determining biochar’s quality and the adequate application. Specifically, the large porosity of biochar has been known as a favorable feature, especially for environmental remediation. In this regard, physical and chemical modifications have been used to improve biochar’s poros...

Natural fibers reinforced composites represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymer-based materials. However, natural fibers are susceptible to fungal degradation which reduces the lifespan of the composites in use. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar (BC) on improving the resistance to fungal decay of pol...

This study aims to characterize and valorize hemp residual biomass by a slow pyrolysis process. The volatile by-products of hemp carbonization were characterized by several methods (TGA, UV-VIS, TLC, Flash Prep-LC, UHPLC, QTOF-MS) to understand the pyrolysis reaction mechanisms and to identify the chemical products produced during the process. The...

The present study investigated the effect of biochar (BC) addition on mechanical, thermal, and water resistance properties of PLA and hemp-PLA-based composites. BC was combined with variable concentration to PLA (5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 20 wt%) and hemp (30 wt%)-PLA (5 wt% and 10 wt%); then, composites were blended and injection molded. Samples were cha...

Abstract This work aimed to investigate the effect of protein/K-carrageenan mixture as replacement for dairy fat portion in whipping cream and to assess its effect on the final product’s characteristics. During this study, a low-fat whipping cream was formulated. The removed fat content was substituted by a blend which contained water, soy protein...